A short guide to visit Marseille, the oldest city in France, elected by the American newspaper Time among the most beautiful destinations in the world!
If you are planning a trip to France to practice your French and discover more about French culture… Stop in Marseille, Provence!
Located in the South-East of France, in the Bouches du Rhône department and in the beautiful Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region, Marseille is the second most populated city in France with 870,731 inhabitants!
It is also the oldest city in France, founded around 600 BC in ancient times. From its first name Massalia. Since antiquity, Marseille has been an important commercial port known throughout the world. Moreover, it experienced a considerable commercial boom during the colonial period and more particularly during the 19th century , becoming a prosperous industrial and trading city.
This year, we are very proud because Marseille has been elected, according to the American magazine The Time, as one of the 50 most beautiful places in the world!
According to the American magazine Time, Marseille must be visited at least once in its life! Indeed, on July 13th, the American magazine Time titled “WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES 2022”
Marseille: Mediterranean darling
The only city in France represented in the top 50 most beautiful places to visit in the world. Sad for Paris and Parisians! Sorry friends!
In this top 50, emblematic places such as the Galapagos Islands, the International Space Station, the Great Barrier Reef…
Marseille, in addition to being one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, boasts emblematic sites such as the Cosquer Cave, the Mucem, Notre Dame, the very old district of the “panier”, and a sublime natural park of the Calanques!
I went for a hike with my American student Lisa. We walked in the Calanques and had a little picnic, while relaxing in the Mediterranean nature around.
Some places not to be missed in Marseille
When we arrive in the center of Marseille we often go through the central station of Marseille, the Saint Charles station which was built in the 1800’s, an old building but which immerses us in the charm of the city of Marseille. If we go down the streets, we arrive at the second emblematic place of Marseille: the old port, between the fishermen who sell their fish in the morning and the bars and restaurants that animate the port throughout the evening the port and its beautiful view of the Basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde called “good mother” by the locals.
Nearby the Mucem is a very important building to understand Marseille and its history because it is the museum of civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean.
If you want to enjoy Marseille more for shopping, there are also the terraces of the port which offer more than 180 stores and restaurants on four floors and a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Some culinary specialties of Marseille
For alcohol lovers, there is « pastis », to be drunk on the rocks with a lot of sun. A taste of aniseed that plunges us into the atmosphere of Marseille.
Bouillabaisse, a typical Marseille dish, a mixture of fish because Marseille remains a city of fishermen, a broth hence the name bouillabaisse with lots of vegetables and flavors of the Mediterranean.
Aïoli, a tradition in the Marseilles family, the garlic and olive oil sauce.
Then for a dessert there are the famous navettes de Marseille, a cookie with orange blossom.
The spirit of Marseille
From its Provencal landscapes and the ideal location between the Camargue and the Saintes Baume park. But also thanks to its world famous gastronomy, like the Bouillabaisse, the shuttle, Marseille is a sharing of senses and conviviality.
Marseille has become a real land of welcome because over the centuries it has welcomed people from all over the Mediterranean. This cosmopolitan city offers a wide range of activities and mythical places to discover. The calanques and the cathedral La major are places to visit when you come to Marseille.
The mix of tradition and modernity offers a diversity that is unique to Marseille, from the old fishing traditions, the pastis aperitif and the Marseille accent to the business district with the headquarters of some multinational companies.
The inhabitants are called the “Marseillais” and the “Marseillaises”. They have an accent that sings. To hear them speak is like listening to music 😉
They love to laugh and chat on the street corner. But do you know some useful words for your trip to Marseille?
You can watch the video here and do the exercise below 🙂
The Marseilles language
Exercise
Header image by Tiia Monto – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
